Cantilenam eandem canis
“You are singing the same old song.”
Terence, Phormio
What does “Cantilenam eandem canis” mean?
Cantilenam eandem canis translates as “You are singing the same old song.”
Someone repeating the same complaint or argument over and over. It is a lightly teasing way to tell a person they have nothing new to say.
“Cantilenam eandem canis” word by word
| Latin | English | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| Cantilenam | the song, the old tune | accusative singular (feminine) of cantilena, “song, ditty”; direct object of canis. In Latin the word often suggests a tune repeated until it grows tiresome |
| eandem | the same | accusative singular feminine of idem, eadem, idem, “the same”; agrees with cantilenam |
| canis | you sing | second person singular present indicative active of cano, “I sing” |
How to pronounce “Cantilenam eandem canis”
The main differences are the ae of cantilenam (eye-like vs. eh) and the i of canis (short in Classical, a clearer ee in Church). Stress falls on the third syllable of cantilenam, the second of eandem and the first of canis.
The story behind it
Word for word the line says “you sing the same song”. The English gloss “the same old song” fits well, since cantilena was the Latin word for a tune or ditty that is repeated again and again.
The phrase comes from Terence, a Roman comic playwright of the second century BC, in his comedy Phormio. It is spoken in the lively, everyday Latin of the stage, not in elevated literary style.
Because it captures a familiar annoyance so neatly, the line became proverbial for tiresome repetition. English speakers still say “the same old song” in much the same way.
How to use “Cantilenam eandem canis”
A cheeky remark for a friend who keeps telling the same story, or for a colleague who raises the same complaint at every meeting. It suits a joking caption or a teasing card, and an essay on repetition in rhetoric or comedy.
- Latin
- Cantilenam eandem canis
- English
- You are singing the same old song.
- Source
- Terence, Phormio
- Era
- Classical
- Theme
- Humor
Common mistakes
- Be careful with the forms. Cantilenam eandem is feminine accusative, so a different noun would need different endings (for example carmen idem, “the same poem”).
- Canis is the verb “you sing” here, not the noun canis, “dog”. Only the context separates the two.
- Addressing several people needs the plural canitis, “you (all) sing”.
- The English “song” hides the tone: cantilena is a worn, repetitive tune, not a fine song.
Questions about “Cantilenam eandem canis”
What does “Cantilenam eandem canis” mean literally?
“You sing the same song”, in idiomatic English “you are singing the same old song”.
Who said “Cantilenam eandem canis”?
It comes from Terence’s comedy Phormio, written in the second century BC.
How do you pronounce “Cantilenam eandem canis”?
In Classical Latin: kan-ti-LAY-nahm eh-AHN-dem KAH-nis. In Church Latin: kan-ti-LEH-nahm eh-AHN-dem KAH-nees.
Does “canis” here mean dog?
No. Here canis is a verb form meaning “you sing”. The noun canis, “dog”, is a separate word that happens to look identical.
More to explore
Translation and grammar checked by Latin Quoter · last reviewed November 2026
One Latin line. Every Monday.
A quote, its translation and the story behind it, free in your inbox.